Homicide on Valley Glen Drive / Community Awareness

Since July 2017, the Dallas Police Department is aware of four investigations involving transgender women that resulted in their death or assault. Although these cases are NOT directly related at this time, they do bare some similarities that the public should be made aware.

The first offense occurred in July 2017, which involved a transgender female. In this incident, the victim’s remains were discovered in a field. The cause of death was undetermined. Therefore, this investigation was classified as an Unexplained Death and documented on Case Number 168170-2017.

The second investigation, which occurred in October 2018, involved a transgender female who was shot in a vehicle in the 7100 block of Gayglen Drive. The victim in this case died of her injuries. Detectives were unable to obtain any valid suspect information. This investigation was classified as a Murder and is documented on Case Number 231046-2018. This remains an open investigation.

The third investigation involving a transgender female was an Aggravated Assault offense that occurred in April 2019. In this case, the victim was stabbed multiple times and left for dead. Fortunately, the victim in this case survived her attack and provided detectives with a description of the suspect. The detectives are working diligently to determine if there are any connections to the other investigations. This Aggravated Assault investigation remains open and is documented on Case Number 073164-2019.

The fourth investigation involves Muhlaysia Booker which occurred in May 2019. Ms. Booker, a transgender female, was found shot to death in the 7200 block of Valley Glen Drive. This is an ongoing Murder investigation and is documented on Case Number 098748-2019.

During the course of these investigations, detectives have learned that besides all victims being transgender females, two of the victims were in the area of Spring Avenue and Lagow Street prior to the offenses occurring. In addition, it has also been determined that two of the victims got into a vehicle with someone. In another case, the victim allowed someone into their vehicle.

At this time, detectives have not established a direct link between these cases. The Dallas Police Department will continue to work with our federal partners to determine if any of these offenses should be considered hate crimes.

As a part of our LGBTQ+ outreach, the Dallas Police Department will participate in a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, May 23, 2019, at 6:30 p.m., at the Resource Center located at 5750 Cedar Springs Road.

Update: May 19, 2019 at 5:00 p.m.

Today, at approximately 3:00 p.m., the victim in this offense has been identified as Muhlaysia Booker, Black Transgender Female.

Original Post

On Saturday, May 18, 2019, at approximately 6:44 a.m., Dallas police responded to a shooting call in the 7200 block of Valley Glen Drive. Upon arrival, officers found an unidentified complainant, Black female, lying face down in a public street. Dallas Fire-Rescue responded and pronounced the victim deceased from homicidal violence.

During the course of this investigation, it was discovered that the homicide victim, Muhlaysia Booker, was also the victim of a brutal attack that occurred on April 12, 2019, at about 11:23 p.m.

During that incident, Dallas officers responded to an Injured Person call at a Dallas area hospital. Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim, a Transgender female, who had been assaulted by known suspects. The victim stated she was assaulted after a being involved in a minor traffic accident at the Royal Crest Apartments located at 3558 Wilhurt Avenue in Dallas. The victim stated that the suspects used homophobic slurs during the assault. This incident was captured on video. On April 14, 2019, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Dallas police detectives arrested Edward Thomas a, Black male 29, for his role in the Aggravated Assault, which was flagged as a hate crime.

Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for information called into Crime Stoppers that leads to the arrest and indictment for this felony offense and other felony offenses. Call Crime Stoppers at 214-373-TIPS (8477), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.